GUL VISITS TANZANIA
President Abdullah Gul visited Dar as Salaam, Tanzania over the weekend as part of a four-day African tour which included Kenya. Gul was greeted by his Tanzanian counterpart Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete. He also met with Tanzanians who have studied in Turkey, saying, "The more you contribute to Tanzania's development, the prouder we'll be of you." Urging them not to forget how to speak Turkish, Gul also asked them to come back to Turkey to visit their Turkish friends. Afterwards, he also told a Turkish-Tanzanian Business Forum, "Bilateral relations will be strengthened by Turkey opening an embassy in Tanzania." /Turkiye/
IN SOUTHEASTERN ANATOLIA CAMPAIGN STOPS, ERDOGAN STRESSES UNITY
Campaigning over the weekend for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) ahead of local elections late next month, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke about unity to rallies of thousands of people in the southeastern Anatolia provinces of Diyarbakir, Adiyaman and Kahramanmaras. "All of us are fundamental elements of this country," he said in Diyarbakir. "All of us are first-class citizens. No one is superior to another. We embrace all with the same sincerity." Touching on government efforts to solve regional economic problems and expand the cultural rights of people living in the region, Erdogan said that the new TRT 6 channel, Turkey's first Kurdish-language state TV station, has attracted great interest not only in Turkey, but also from places as varied as Western Europe and the Middle East. In Adiyaman, Erdogan said, "We founded this country together. No instigation can harm the Turkish people's unity. No power can divide Turkey." Stating that his party bases its policies on the pillars of justice, service and freedom, Erdogan stressed the government's determination to improve and protect democracy. Criticizing the opposition for what he called a smear-based election campaign, Erdogan said politics is done in public rallies, within and for the people, not through using the media to spread slander. Erdogan also pledged the government would continue to equally bring all public services to all regions of the country without any discrimination. Dismissing opposition claims that the government is using social aid programs to win votes in the upcoming elections, Erdogan said, "Our duty is to serve the public." In Adiyaman, Erdogan also inaugurated public facilities such as a hospital. /Turkiye/
BABACAN: "IN THE WAKE OF DAVOS, ISLAMIC COUNTRIES AND THE WEST ARE INTENSELY INTERESTED IN TURKEY"
Israel made a great mistake in Palestine by launching an offensive which left 1,300 dead, said Foreign Minister Ali Babacan yesterday. Speaking to Star daily, Babacan stated that nobody should be silent in the face of such a human tragedy. Referring to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's walkout protest last month from a panel in Davos with the Israeli president, he added, "If you take a sincere attitude towards democracy, international law, solidarity, fundamental rights and freedoms, and you defend the same principles everywhere you go, everybody will trust you." He also said, "After that incident, there is intensive interest towards Turkey from both Islamic countries and the West. Erdogan's attitude was called the Turkish stand." Touching on US President Barack Obama's phone calls to President Abdullah Gul and Erdogan, Babacan said that the first bilateral talks between the leaders can be held during the April G-20 meeting in London. /Star/
IN KOCAELI, CHP'S BAYKAL SLAMS RULING PARTY
Speaking at a weekend campaign rally in Kocaeli, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal lambasted the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party). In related news, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the CHP's candidate for Istanbul Municipality mayor, visited various districts of the city over the weekend and criticized the performance of current Mayor Kadir Topbas. In other campaign news, opposition Democrat Party (DP) leader Suleyman Soylu stumped for DP candidates in Istanbul, and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Ankara Deputy Deniz Bolukbasi held a press conference in Kayseri. /Hurriyet/
STATE MINISTER TUZMEN DUE IN GEORGIA
State Minister Kursad Tuzmen will travel to Georgia today for a two-day visit. A group of 100 Turkish businesspeople will accompany Tuzmen, who is expected to meet with Georgian Premier Nika Gilauri. Tuzmen will also participate in a Turkish-Georgian business forum in Tbilisi, and meet with Turkish investors in the country. He will also meet with Georgia's economic development and finance ministers. /Hurriyet Daily News/
ARMENIAN PM PROPOSES ENERGY COOPERATION WITH TURKEY
Speaking at a weekend economic forum, Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said his country could cooperate in the energy sector with Turkey. According to the ArmInfo news agency, Sargsyan said, "It should be known that we would welcome Russian-Turkish cooperation during reconstruction of the Metsamor nuclear power plant, whose lifespan is nearing its end. We're open to cooperation." Sargsyan underlined that such cooperation would have both economic and political benefits. /Hurriyet/
38 TURKISH DEFENSE COMPANIES ATTEND IDEX 2009
IDEX 2009, the Middle East's biggest defense industry fair, opened over the weekend in Abu Dhabi with a ceremony attended by Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan as well as Defense Industry Undersecretary Murad Bayar. Turkey is participating in the fair with 38 companies. Speaking to reporters, Gonul said during the fair, two Turkish defense companies signed sales and joint production agreements on Turkish-made assault boats and rockets with firms from Abu Dhabi. /Sabah/
ARCHITECT CANSEVER DIES AT 89
Turgut Cansever, the only Turkish architect to have received the prestigious Aga Khan Award for Architecture three times, died on Sunday in Istanbul. He was 89. Last year he also received the Grand Culture and Art Award. /Today's Zaman/